I have not been in the saddle for over six months. One of the longest rainy seasons on record, followed by horse injuries, then my own, have created a formula for stagnation on the horse training front. It’s a formula that has repeated many times over the last six years, as I’ve struggled to return … More I’m still here!
It’s been the same story every year. The flies come out. Coffee and Tally do the Cha-Cha when the fly spray touches their sensitive hides. And Noble remembers that he’s much taller than we are, when it’s time to wear his fly mask. Last year, in an effort to mitigate the challenges with Noble’s ‘coyness’ … More A Tale of Two Fly Masks
A few years ago, in the course of trying to retrain Tally after the “trainer” who started her had botched it so badly, I was making one last walk circle before getting off. But my dismount did not happen as I’d planned. We’d just turned across the arena when a slight rustle was heard from … More The explosive equine
The last thing I want to do is drag myself out from under the warm blanket, in my warm house, to venture out into the cold and the rain. It has been over a week, and four tissue boxes, and I am tired of struggling to breathe. Just standing up can be enough to make … More Horsekeeping while ill
A recent Facebook conversation about positive reinforcement led to someone asking a question about one of my favorite fallacies – if you comfort a fearful or spooking horse, aren’t you just reinforcing the fear? I first encountered that idea when I started training our dogs, just over twenty years ago. My experience with a variety … More The fearful equine
One of the aspects of classically based Dressage training is the way in which it changes the horse’s physique. It is true that any equine activity that involves a level of conditioning will tone muscles, and should make the horse more attractive. I say “should” because there are definitely activities that condition a horse but … More Sculpting the Equine Body, Pt 1
Horse Crazy Once Again 